PS 3523 
.E63 P6 
1919 
Copy 1 




POEMS 

By W ILLIAM J. LEONARD 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2011 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/poemshumanitariaOOIeon 



POEMS 

HUMANITARIAN, HISTORIC, 
AND PATRIOTIC 



By 

WILLIAM J. LEONARD 



PIIIVATELY PRINTED 
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS. NEW JERSEY 



\nn 14 1919 



0)ClA5.'l.';!Mi;i 






yt-i • ( 



CONTENTS 



Page 

The Stars axd Stripes 1 

DoxoLOGY OF Liberty 1 

The Way to Utmost Good 2 

"Save, Lord" 14 

The Battle Hymn of Freemen 15 

Bewe Belgium at Treaty Gate 16 

Including Hun War Songs. 

Hold the Huns 22 

Neptune at Sea Bright Playground 23 

The Sword of Liberty 27 

Genesis of Monmouth and Coming of the ]NL\nito . . 28 



Copyright, 1919, by William J. Leonard, 
Atlantic Highlands, Xew Jersey. 



The Stars and Stripes 

Tune: America 

Star Spangled Banner, thee, 

"Savior of Liberty," 

Allies acclaim : 

Old Glory, hail to thee. 

Blest banner of the free, 

God giveth victory 

In freedom's name. 

Float on eternally 

For all fraternally 

On land and sea. 

Stainless, whate'er betide, 

Flag of our Fathers' pride 

Who 'neath thee fought or died 

Gloriously. 

Thou led'st their loyal sons 

To rout the ruthless Huns 

In holy war, 

That tyranny may cease. 

The weak win just release; 

All dwell in righteous peace 

Forevermore. 

Thy Star of Liberty 

Still leads each state to Thee, 

Savior of Men ; 

Thy stripes to free the world 

Shine from each flag unfurled ; 

Tyrants from thrones are hurled ; 

Right reigns. Amen. 



Doxology of Liberty 

Tune: Old Hundred 

God ordains all equal and free, 
Though great or small the nations be. 
No ruthless Hun supremacy. 
Nor subjection by tyranny. 



[1] 



The Way to Utmost Good 

Dedicdtetl to all Truthscekers, including Mr. 11. G. Wells. 

Come sing the mercies of Almighty God, 
Who made not man mere puppet of His will, 
But gave him power to pick the path he trod 
And choose 'twixt right and wrong, or good and ill. 

Proclaim His holy angels spurning sin, 
Who freely cast their righteous lot with Him. 
When Lucifer's rebelling host would win 
Supremacy from God and seraphim. 

From Heaven hurled the vanquished sped to Earth, 
Wrought evil here where God created good, 
^\ liile man forsook his rights divine by birth. 
Seduced by Satan, wallowing wliere lie would. 

Created ])erfect, he, with devils' aid. 

Destroyed the ty])e in self, beast, plant and soil; 

His sin and Satan double curse essayed. 

Till Marth yields fruit alone to tears and toil. 

Dread blight of that twin curse drove darkly down. 
Where P'.den all the globe began to be. 
On j)arents of our race ])repared to crown, 
Creation's finished purj)ose perfectly, 

Suspending — aye, despoiling works divine. 
Foul end for freedom's princely })rivilege; 
Sad consequence of sin, now yours and mine 
By heritage from Adam and his liege. 

Plan's birthright scorned, fiends hail him Satan's own. 
Accessory of treason against Heaven: 
Mid mock and moan for righteousness few groan. 
Lost holiness to their first parents given. 

Almighty (iod doth always all things well 

And gave freewill to men for utmost good: 

Sin may not doom rej)entant souls to hell, 

\\\u) will l)e saved through Christ's redeeming blood. 

There is a way l)y faith, the only way, 
Froni Karth up there among Goil's splendid stars, 
Which we may seek and find, while here we stay; 
To enter Heaven when life no longer bars. 

"I am the way," the Saviour's wonls |)ro(laiiii, 
"None to the Father rometh l)nt by Mi-": 
Hear T'cter ])reach : "There is no other name 
Among men given, whereby we saved nuist l)e." 



John also testifies: "The Father sent 
The Son to be the Saviour of the world." 
"This is the Christ," Samaritans assent, 
Amazed, "indeed the Saviour of the world." 

Though hazard of responsibility 
Inheres in each volition of the will. 
Its harmony with God's supremacy 
Insures us wise, free, safe and happy still. 

From everyone to yonder great White Throne, 

The will a cable may forever stretch. 

For instant access of each soul alone, 

To praise or pray, and waiting blessings fetch. 

Important — pshaw, momentous is the choice, 
Committing souls t'ward evil permanence, 
Final for those who'll not heed Mercy's voice: 
"Repent, Christ saves from sin's last consequence." 

Not less All-righteous than Aliiiight}', God 
Yet wields no red-hot rod to force freewill : 
Sad end of evil seems sufficient prod 
To seek salvation from a choice so ill. 

Did not the sinless angels mingling free 

In infinite expanse scan good and ill, 

And heights of Heaven or depths of hell clear see. 

As goal for each affinity of will? 

Sure, each one had an equal chance and choice 
With Lucifer, now Satan, prince of hell, 
In Heaven to lift rebellious arms and voice 
Against the Most High God, as prophets tell. 

Though evil seek its kind the good likewise ; 
One self-assembling hell, the other Heaven, 
Yet mingled here en masse, both truth and lies, 
We pray and fight to foil the evil leaven. 

For fiercer than attraction to their kind. 

Flames evil spirits' mad, imperious need, 

To suck the virtue from each better mind 

And leave naught but corruption where they feed. 

How horrid ! one in Heaven inventing hell ! 
Then peer of any angel round the Throne, 
Sly practicing with evil to expel 
At pleasure matchless virtues of his own ! 

Imparting secrets of his sinister skill 
To seraph comrades of adventurous mind. 
Who learn to change themselves to fiends at will 
And strange excitement in much practice find. 



[3] 



Dire end of damning sport each deems remote, 
New vices lure them, too, to try more tricks 
Besides, desire, newborn, soon casts the vote 
Deciding hell-wise, devils' fates to fix. 

Fiends, faster, ever faster, they become, 
Like flights of shuttles weaving shrouds of shame : 
Fiends constant and more constant they till some 
No longer care to claim a righteous name. 

First faults and discords of celestial song 

Send shocks like bursting bombs through swelling praise; 

But sudden harmony again peals strong. 

Though angels shudder still from shocked amaze 

While dissonance, too, sharp reverberates. 
Forever smiting through affrighted space. 
Out far beyond encircling jasper gales. 
Pursued by paeans from the Holy Place; 

As when with men truth flics to catch fleet lies. 
Too late to stop, outspecd or stifle them. 
Foreseen was sin's advent by One All-wise 
And hot rebellion in His righteous realm. 

Though angels very wise and holy be. 
Sin's heights and depths would yet lure some to see 
And grasp ambition's opportunity. 
Adventuring untried futility. 

Apparently the Devil had to be. 
Inventor and director-chief of sin ; 
His willing followers, too, each fairly free 
To swell sweet praise or raise infernal din. 

Right might be right without potential wrong 
And devils angels minus power to change. 
But you and I have had assurance long, 
That God knows best. Who did not so arrange. 

True, both have rights, the fiends and angels too, 
Though devils none to do their comrades wrong; 
If ill to self each one may choose to do. 
To others none, nor mar the eternal song. 

Thenceforth, to safeguard loyal suppliants, 
Almightv power augmcntcth righteousness. 
Consuming and expelling evil : whence 
We hail Thee, Spirit of All-holiness! 

Preserver of angelic purity. 

Source, Essence, Reservoir of righteous will, 

Composer of celestial melody, 

Whose choir's "Good Will to Men" cheers sad Earth still. 



[4] 



Guard, Guide and Comforter of Holy Writ 
For men ; Creator of clean hearts within, 
IneflFable Love, Peerless, Infinite, 
Which, Perfect, casteth out fear, envy, sin ! 

From Love resistless, fiends fly, self-expelled. 
Forever exiled, through the boundless space : 
In sure seclusion's hell securely held. 
Till next they find a mischief breeding place. 

As flying meteors shot flashing down. 
Lost spirits pass ; through Eden's verdant sward 
Like lightning speeding on where wicked drown 
Remorse in other torments sins afford. 

Down to the inmost caverns of the Earth 
Those immaterials flash at thrilling speed; 
There in the molten lava find a berth. 
Supplied with every torture hell could need. 

If earthward flight to them seemed countless years, 
They ages tossed in Hades' peaceless bed 
And cursed their agonies where but One hears, 
Experience more multiplying dread. 

Oh horrible abode ! those seething caves 

Of terrors not half visible by flame; 

Their rocky roofs o'erhanging sulphurous waves, 

Wherein adventured hordes of sin and shame. 

High tides surged daily round and round the lake 
And swept and scoured against the unyielding roof. 
When demons had a sorry choice to take 
Of evil — which they love, if choice be proof. 

As spirit over matter holds its sway. 
So those who must in Chaos' caldron stay. 
Assimilate from evil, liquid, clay, 
A body fit for Hades, may we say? 

Innnersed in purging purgatorial fire. 
Apart from virtuous souls whereon to prey. 
Mid plenteous evil sating no desire, 
The rash inventors of all trouble lay. 

No more sin's chief-director doth direct : 
More overplus of ill none can promote; 
Redundance reached, the program hath been wrecked ; 
"Hell's much too much of evil," demons vote. 

For devils' lust is like the weasels' joy. 
To suck at oozing virtue in the dark; 
Deceit and lie they soothingly employ, 
Or else their victims fly and will not hark. 



[5] 



Had not a fearful earthquake riven hell, 
Releasing all its evil-doing crew, 
Another tale there might have been to tell, 
Of love and mercy, than I sing with you. 

Pent primal energy burst through Earth's crust, 
To belch from fires primeval ash and slag. 
Months night and day volcanoes vomit dust. 
Creation's scrap-heaps, crowned with peak and crag. 

At last upheavals cease, Eden unmoved — 
How glorious to see, new-made for man — 
Lay fruitful, flowery, sunny, songful, groved. 
And no good lacked in verdure, beast or plan. 

Without, where Paradise may soon extend. 
On a volcano's cindery sides, one day 
A python glides with artful curve and bend, 
Till it collides with something in its way: 

Then, playful round and round the thing it wound 
And, arched above, it lunged and keenly bit 
— What? Just the heel of a split-hoof it found 
And stung, and strove to upward draw with it. 

But lo ! forth flew another hoof, up-thrust. 
And wriggling upward, legs, too, followed hoof: 
Tail, body, head, horns last, pushed from the dust, 
Till Satan's sooty self showed whole enough! 

The startled snake lay coiled but still, amazed ; 

Some stupor of reaction and release 

From hell yet held the Fiend; too sorely hazed, 

He anguished, cursed and groaned; nor held his peace; 

"Almighty God, Creator Infinite! 
Who art All-wise, All-righteous, Merciful ; 
O'er all whose works are matchless glories writ. 
And whose decrees all others swift annul. 

"My punishment, most just, is worst to bear, 
Confined to inner chaos' evil hell. 
Though trend and fitting end of sin, I swear, 
As fresh experiences fit me to tell, 

"Created glorious, self-made forlorn. 
Mere master devil whom but devils hail ; 
No more bright Lucifer, the Son of Morn ! 
Regret, remorse, repentance no avail. 

"INI}' will expelled each virtue from my soul, 
INIy choice and practice made of me the Fiend, 
Which Thou foresaw, Who wisely ))lanned the whole. 
Yet could control freewill, howe'er it leaned. 



[6] 



"Mine was but finite will, Thine infinite; 
My latitude of choice was fixed by Thee : 
Aught of coercion pleasing Thee was fit, 
But, unrestrained, Thou left me wholly free. 

"Thy Holy Spirit once heard angels plead 
For power resistlessly preventing sin : 
Thou foreordained both prayer and need, 
And gave protection, too, lest evil win. 

"Not I nor any devil made such plea, 
Why not? None of us would be free from sin ; 
We'd made our choice, for lost souls had to be. 
To save from hell pure souls who'd else fall in. 

"Did I act well the part prepared by Thee, 
Essential to Thy perfect plan essayed? 
I respite crave ! some freedom hence give me 
From this damned uniform my sin has made. 

"At this stage naught hut devil can I be ; 
Yet livery of hell — horns, hoofs and tail. 
Proclaiming free, 'Lost angel ! Danger ! Flee !' 
Here where no angels see, will naught avail. 

"I yet will evil first, last, all the time : 
In isolation, then worse evils will ; 
Where all is evil, there with none I chime ; 
Through discord's climax crash worst, basest still. 

"Fm rightful Prince of Pandemonium, 
Out-clash, out-clamor and out-wrangle all ; 
Out-devilled devils curse encomium, 
Whose envy, hate and malice futile fall. 

"What's evil but defiled, corrupted good? 
Naught new-created; just perverted things, 
Vile excrement of fiends which is their food 
In hell; its last pollution mine, their king's. 

"Ability Thou gavest makes me chief. 
Though from Thee I am banished by decree ; 
At least, from chaos will Thou grant relief, 
And on the Earth my kingdom hence give me. 

"Let devils lay aside sin's uniforms. 
Until they need them next, elsewhere to go : 
Here may they dwell in Thy new creatures' forms ; 
As yonder snake, bid me pass to and fro. 

"Such service to Thy angels I have done. 
As warning to beware of evil choice, 
On Earth too, may I not warn everyone 
Of sinful folly, by my fate and voice? 



[7] 



"I was Thy son, though disinherited ; 

Thou still canst use me for Thy utmost good, 

To roam the World, while making, in Thy stead 

And prove will-freedom wise for Earth's new brood. 

"If highest good for all came by free choice. 
Of fiends good angels Thou wouldst sometime make, 
But good seems their alone, who heed Thy voice, 
And cleave to righteousness, w'hich fiends foresake. 

"From evil choice to evil permanence, 
The slide is fast and thrilling travelling: 
I was the first to find and use it ; hence 
Know well both way and end past cavilling. 

"What Thou dost foreordain — I do not know. 
Nor what wise beings here Thou wilt create: 
If free like angels, right and wrong they go. 
Both let me speed to their appointed fate. 

"Ma^' not Thy plan provide for me the part, 
Consistent with Thy holy purposes, 
To freely work worst evils in my heart ; 
Triumphant good Thy metamorphoses.'' 

"All-kind, All-just art Thou, below, above. 

Who mad'st Thy children free to pick their path : 

In Heaven fiends fled from sin-precluding Love ; 

Since righteousness was dead. Love seemed Thy wrath. 

"Wilt Thou create forever worlds and souls. 
While we speed damned and bleat as Thou approve, 
Or, ceasing, shall we devils have new roles. 
At last regenerated by Thy love?" 

As Satan paused, a dreadful storm swept round, 
Terrific thunder pealed as if "Amen !" 
The frightened ])ython's coils about him wound: 
Thick darkness fell and hid the landscape then. 

Illumined oft by forked lightning's flash : 
The rain in torrents poured ; the winds blew gales ! 
Soon all the slope was gullies through the ash, 
Exposing hapless fiends' horns, hoofs and tails ! 

Still grovelling in the slush dazed Satan lay, 
While past him floods of silty water ran ; 
Did more than tempest hear him moan and pray, 
"O God, sometime may I be bom again ?" 

When morning dawned at last, the storm passed on. 
Where Satan lay, his huge bulk yet remained. 
Whose spirit with the python forth had gone ; 
On gullied slopes sweet sunny silence reigned. 



[8] 



Through Eden doth the Fiend his serpent guide : 
He notes the fruits, the perfect loveliness, 
The gentle beasts, proud Adam and his bride, 
And everywhere the air of happiness. 

As hissing speeds the Devil-driven snake. 
It rears majestic'ly to seek its path, 
Till comrades in the groves and glens awake 
To follow, like a trailing aftennath. 

Where our first parents made their nuptial bower, 
The python paused to hear the pair converse. 
Discoursing of the future race, their power. 
And God's sole prohibition stem and terse: 

"The tree of knowledge of the good and ill. 
Thou shalt not eat of it * * * or thou shalt die." 
Thus Satan learned the scope of man's freewill. 
And what God planned ; though yet he pondered why. 

Thence to the mountainside the serpents go. 
First Satan's python leading like a king: 
Tliere through the gullies searching to and fro 
For fiends up-thrown by Hades' vomiting. 

At last their task is done ; the fiends are found 
And roused, rejoicing, free to roam as snakes: 
They, too, must needs see Eden and wait round 
Till time to chat and court Eve Adam takes. 

They then to council come at Satan's call, 
Where he recounts their past and present ills : 
How God had foreordained their evil fall, 
Nor held them back by fettering their wills. 



t-> 



"Innnortals," boomed he, "evil doomed to do ! 
From Heaven fled for freedom from the right, 
From hell we're free, whom here the ]\Iost High threw. 
Our chance has come, at length to win our fight ! 

"From yonder couple must Earth's peoples spring 
And they are free to follow God or me : 
Through evil choice, behold us triumphing ! 
They and their race our prey, our slaves, shall be! 

"From evil sources flow but evil streams: 
Yon pair corrupted, Eden shall be mine 
To rule and ruin : not like Heavenly dreams 
Of conquest, winning one by one malign ! 

"Nor will the Most High stoop to stay my hand ; 
For I am free, and Eve and Adam free 
To rule the Earth or break God's sole command ; 
His Holy Spirit may not hinder me. 



[9] 



"Mayhap Jehovah loves His creatures so, 
To rescue them and buy the World from me, 
He'll take an option, which will lav Him low 
And thence assure for me supremacy." 

Ah, then the serpents raised their horrid hiss; 
The devils snarled : "Defeated, you supreme ! 
Go to ! who sank us deep in hell's abyss ! 
Most damnedest dreamer of worst futile dream." 

At Satan's every other serpent springs, 
Together coiling ; wriggling round and round : 
The struggling mass beside their chieftain clings, 
Till he, left free, glides off, for Eden bound. 

When 'neath the tree forbidden Eve appears, 
Her notice Satan gains by p3'thon tricks : 
As she admires, the subtile serpent rears 
To eat the fruit and firm attention fix. 

Observing her amazed regard, said he: 
"Yea, hath God said, 'Eat not of every tree !' " 
To whom the mother of our race to be : 
"We mav eat fruit of other trees you see. 

"But this God said, 'Ye shall not eat of it. 

And neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die !' " 

Still Satan plucked the fruit, though warned to quit, 

Then to the woman lying made reply : 

"Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know. 
That in 'the day ye eat thereof, your eves 
Then shall be opened, whence as gods ye'U go. 
Who know both good and ill, efficient, wise." 

Alas ! Our Mother Eve did eat the fruit. 
So good for food and pleasant to the eyes: 
She gave our father too, who ate, though mute, 
Since 'twas to be desired to make one wise. 

When God called, "Adam," they ashamed would hide, 
Though from Him thought nor deed may be concealed; 
The guilty pair amongst thick trees abide. 
Yet know full well their plight is clear revealed. 

God asked the man: "Hast eaten of the tree.^*" 
Who said : "The woman gave me and I ate." 
Eve sobbed and sighed : "The serpent tempted me !" 
Thenceforth to creep accursed was Satan's fate. 

Between the woman and the tempter hence, 
God put an everlasting enmity ; 
The feud descended to her seed intense. 
For Eve was duped b}' foul duplicity. 



[10] 



Thus World dominion to the Devil passed, 
Great Dragon, Serpent, Tempter, Satan, Beast! 
Our lot to toil and suffer thence was cast ; 
Since God would not coerce freewill the least. 

Thus Adam sold the whole Earth under sin, 
His deed's confirmed, too, by his every son ; 
All Satan's bondmen still, we would have been. 
Had not our Saviour bought us every one. 

Triumphant Satan boasts his vassal man 
And hails his earthly empire now complete : 
Inflated fiend ! he'd still pursue his plan 
To bring the Most High humbled at his feet. 

Lord of the Earth, he counsels with his crew. 
How he shall overthrow Omnipotence : 
For once the fiends agree : "Ensnare God too ! 
As man He can have no deliverance." 

Behold, All-loving, as All-righteous, He 
Blends utter majesty with fatherhood. 
When Satan staked his conquest vauntingly. 
As "his who'll sinless live," which no man could. 

What worse predicament could choice create 
Than wretched man's sin-snared by craft and fate, 
His race enslaved through life, death doth await; 
Shall utmost good spring from his sorry state. 

Each evil choice above was but for one. 
Seduced by no deceitful lying fiend : 
While Eve and Adam's sin condemned each son. 
Posterity unborn, howe'er they leaned. 

Oh yes, the plan of the All-perfect God 
Provides for such the further chance or choice. 
By equity required, which men applaud, 
Set free from sin and Satan's dominance. 

The Father sends His only Righteous Son, 
Born of a virgin and the Holy Ghost, 
To dwell a man on Earth, the Holy One, 
And die to save us to the uttermost. 

If open there had been some better way. 
Whereby salvation could be won for man. 
Yet give the Devil too, his due, I say 
Jehovah surely would have used the plan. 

The course of Nature seems a sequence plain 
To any, rightly read in Holy Writ : 
God's plan is elsewhere studied worse than vain. 
Without "freewill" and "utmost good" in it. 



[11] 



With power to make men sin, the Devil, free, 
Enshiviiig all through Eve and Adam's fall, 
Necessitates a saviour. Who shall be 
Both God and man, else may be none at all ! 

Foul sin and Satan hopeless terms impose 
For World redemption by one merely man! 
"IMy kingdom for the sinless one," he crows; 
"Who'll live on Earth a righteous life? None can." 

God's "chosen race" of old wei-e sinful men, 
Who could not qualify in Satan's test: 
"None righteous, no not one," was written then, 
While seers foretold The Christ, Redeemer blest! 

Did Jacob, Moses, Aaron, David, Job 
Fulfil requirements of a sinless life? 
Who but The Saviour needs no shield, or robe 
Of righteousness to wear, where sin is rife ! 

Christ bore our sins upon the accursed tree; 
He gave Himself that all He might redeem ; 
Bought with a price and not your own are ye; 
Sold under sin, yet God did us esteem. 

Oh, worst of criminals have rights bv law, 

As well as any righteous citizen: 

The God of Equity and Justice saw 

Conflicting claims must spring from Adam's sin. 

To man the World was given as his own. 
Reserving fruit of a Forbidden Tree: 
But Satan, too, had rights here ; first alone ; 
Then, as man's liege, he gained supremacy. 

To rights theology pays scanty heed; 

Yet maxim trite : "The King can do no wrong," 

Foundation for an arbitrary creed 

With gaps of sequence, daunts the faith not strong. 

"Why evil, devil, sin?" inquirers cry; 
"Can God Omnipotent and Just yet be, 
Alloting toil, pain, sorrow, then to die?" 
"Freewill," His answer, "solves the mystery." 

Free choice as sheer compulsion who can see? 
With fundamentals, shall not all agree? 
Freewill and good gave evil potency : 
Some angels would be devils wilfully. 

Man's choice of evil must bear consequence. 
Yet without choice, how mean a mind would be ! 
The curse from it is no malevolence: 
Vindictive God of Mercy ! No, not He ! 



[12] 



Mere sport or contest hath its certain rules, 
By craft or conscience fixed for playing fair: 
Would God the Teacher's practice in His schools 
Belie the precepts taught disciples there? 

If He could change a jot of His decree. 
To stamp as failure, or deny, freewill, 
Would He Almighty and All-righteous be? 
Or hold supremacy of Satan still? 

The Saviour is the Way to Utmost Good, 
Who sets all free from bondage under sin : 
So wisely each may choose, as Adam could 
And "whosoever will" salvation win. 

To right and freedom God gives victory, 
"Survival of the Fittest" righteously: 
His Holy Fire can thee from evil free : 
Thy will for good may triumph gloriously. 

Repent and trust in Christ's sure promises : 
Seek righteousness and for forgiveness pray: 
However sinful, "Come to Me," he says: 
No eager soul hath He e'er turned away ! 



[13] 



"Save, Lord" 

Tune: Eventide 

Almighty God, in peace or peril's hour, 
To Thee may bold or timid turn for power : 
Thy gracious guidance eager souls may seek 
Alwaj's and everywhere through Christ the Meek, 

Who calmly walked on troubled seas of life 

In Galilee, while plots of foes were rife, 

Until the hour Thou gavest Him to die 

And lead us through the grave to Thee on high. 

Dost bid us, too, walk passless paths to Thee 
By faith, mid perils, through death's agony? 
Alas ! we hesitate and challenge why. 
Doubting, sinking, till "Save, Lord," then we cry. 

Thou art Jehovah, blessed only God ! 
Life is Thy gift ; death ceaseth at Thy nod. 
Thy kingdom come; Thy will, not ours, be done. 
We trust Thee still through Jesus Christ, Thy Son. 

Baptize red earth in purifying grace; 
Sin, sorrow, greed, ambition, pain efface : 
Sink sword, gun, despot in depths of Thy love; 
O Holy Spirit come ! Haste, Heavenly Dove ! 



[1^: 



The Battle Hymn of Freemen 

Down the ages hark the tramping of the armies of the free, 
Who were faithful to man's vision of a righteous liberty, 
But were done to death in despots' dungeons, chains and slavery — 
'Tis Freedom marching on ! 

Chorus : Glory, glory, hallelujah! 
Glory, glory, hallelujah! 
Glory, glory, hallelujah! 
'Tis Freedom marching on. 

Often pangs of bitter bondage God hath let his people know, 
'Till they cried to Him repentant : O Lord, let thy servants go 
"Come, great God of Battles, help us ! Crush all tyrants at a blow ! 
"Send Freedom marching on !" 

Chorus: Glory, glory, hallelujah! &c. 
Send Freedom marching on. 

Pow'r and splendor of His coming lay the mighty monarchs low! 
Onward tramping of His loyal hosts with terror thrills the foe! 
Doors of prisons ope, slaves' fetters fall, while freemen's trumpets blow. 
And Freedom's marching on ! 

Chorus : Glory, glory, hallelujah! &c. 
And Freedom's marching on ! 

ProfF'ring "peace on earth" His heralds came two thousand years ago, 
And He sent His Son, the Prince of Peace, to reign o'er all below. 
Whom His servants slew ! O traitor crew ! the right to overthrow ! 
His Kingdom's marching on ! 

Chorus : Glory, glor}", hallelujah! &c. 
His Kingdom's marching on. 

His brave freemen waked the New World from its savage lethargy, 
Flung forth His flag to guide mankind unto true democracy ! 
And they live or die for equal rights, heroes of liberty. 
With Freedom marching on ! 

Chorus : Glory, glory, hallelujah! &c. 
With Freedom marching on. 

Plow they halt the haughty Hun lords' drive for world supremacy, 
League of ruthless sister nations in a foul conspiracy. 
Failing, despite preparations of full half a century; 
For Freedom's marching on ! 

Chorus : Glory, glory, hallelujah! &c. 
For Freedom's marching on. 

The sure fiat of Jehovah makes all men and nations free 
With rights equal to each other's howe'er strong or weak they be ! 
"Whoso slighteth My command," saith He, "shall give account to Me !" 
True Freedom's marching on ! 

Chorus: Glory, glory, hallelujah! &c. 
True Freedom's marchino- on. 



[15] 



Brave Belgium at Treaty Gate 

To their Majesties, Albert and Elizabeth, King and Queen of the 
Belgians, whose rare courage and patriotism under national adversities 
command universal admiration, I dedicate these lines, as a tribute from 
an American, expressive of the high esteem in which they and their 
nation are held by their ally, the United States of America, and ap- 
preciative, in particular, of Belgium's brave and timely resistance of 
German invasions through Treaty Gate and elsewhere. 



"Frenchmen, awake! Germans draw near 
"By stealtli to take France from the rear 
"Through Treaty Gate ; their way seems clear ; 
"This is the date they would pass here! 

"Pray God, tho late ! In Jesus name 
"We bar the Gate whence Freedom came! 
"Rights we defend ; liberty claim ; 
"Better brave end than Kaiser's shame ! 

"God ordains all equal and free, 
"Tho great or small the nation be ; 
"No ruthless Hun supremacy ; 
"No subjection by Tyranny!" 

More startling note ne'er summoned France 



To meet her gloating foes' advance, 
Who cheat by ruse her vigilance 
To pass the Meuse with arrogance ! 

Flashed world alarms : "Huns at the Gate 
"Violate right of neutral state! 
"Freemen, to arms ! for nothing wait ! 
"Belgians fight Huns at their Gate!" 



II. 

War Lords prepared for world conquest. 
The Kaiser governing all things ; 
j\Icn, kultur-stamped at his behest, 
His subjects too as king of kings. 

"When started their Pan-German drive? 
"Just recently?" you ask. Ah, no! 
It dates when Bismark was alive, 
Now nearly fifty years ago. 

They plan and build a "War Machine" 
Perfect beyond the Devil's dream! 
They census, spy, map, wire unseen 
The lands and seas that wortliwliile seem. 

They tabulate and index all 

The Sun sliines on for instant use 

In trade, school, WAR, at Kaiser's call, — 

Statistic mine fired by time-fuse! 

[16] 



They set a "War Indemnity" 
To levy funds for Germany 
From each village, town and city 
As tribute from an "ENEMY!" 

O damnable conspiracy ! 
Exulting, oft they boast the day 
They'll dare thenceforth spurn seci'ecy 
And crush France, England, Italy ! 

They veil God's word and prophecies 
With worship of Pan-Fatherland; 
And teach by vain philosophies 
Submission to the "Iron Hand." 

Youths they train up as war-pirates, 
While women do their heavy work ; 
The maidens drill as war-parrots ; 
The milch cows haul what war steeds shirk. 

Young minds are formed in kultur grooves, 
Adopted by the General Staff, 
Who censor news and edit views. 
Till Satan cracks his face to lausrh. 

And common people learn to sing 
This war song of the ruling ring: 
"The Kaiser must, of kings, be king 
"And rule mankind and everything!" 

Since the whole nation think as one. 
Armies, aircraft, bureaus waiting, 
Wilhelm quick seeks war's "Rubicon;" 
The Staff last toast "The Day" of hating! 

That pent Hun flood, hemmed round by states 
Of treaty-made equality, 
Scorns its weak dam, bursts ope the gates 
To deluge earth with tyranny. 

England hails seething Germany 
Just then, July, Nineteen-Fourteen : 
"Wilt back Belgium neutrally!" 
Berlin, as bomb bursts, unforeseen : 

"Forward thro Belgium ! Lay waste ! 
"Burn, plunder, murder, rape and maim ! 
"Enslave both girls and men! Make haste! 
"Pour precious loot back whence ye came! 

"Of captured railways make good use; 
"Unite them to our home system. 
"Speed spies, bomb-birds! Turn all hell loose! 
"Spread bribes ! Tap wires ! Use strategem ! 

"Levy stiff tribute as war tax ! 
"Gut bank and warehouse! Get the food! 
"Frisk clothes and kits from dead ones' backs ! 
"Where'er ye march leave nothing good, 

[17] 



"Indoors or out; nor liorses, kine, 
"Grain, tools, autos, meat, poultry, seed ! 
"Drive cripple folk before our line 
"To shield the trains and troops at need! 

"Push fast to Paris, first of goals ! 
"Whence glad your Christmas chimes shall peal ! 
"Dumb strike damned French and Belgian souls 
"With terror the wide world shall feel ! 

"Bid soldiers brave for share of spoil 
"Beget their kind on whom they will! 
"Fly free our flag o'er conquered soil 
"Which captive slaves for us sliall till ! 

"Rack each for pelf, so all will learn 
"Submission to 'Efficiency'! 
"Sack church for chalice, bust and urn, 
"For candlestick and tapestry ! 

"Safe in Berlin store what is best 
"Of art treasures and libraries ; 
"Mete whomsoever would protest, 
"Or prince or priest, swift obsequies ! 

"Fire Krupp guns till the nations quake 
"And every knee to us hath bowed! 
"Of spire and turret targets make! 
"Raze fort, cathedral, city proud!" 

III. 

Like magic armies mobilize ! 

Bands play, flags wave, steeds prance, crowd cheers ! 

The kind of thing the War Staff prize. 

Climax for kultur engineers ! 

"Forward with God," blasphemes Wilhelm, 
"Who makes the Germans supermen, 
"Supreme in war and wisdom's realm ; 
"Pan-Germany's man's lost Eden !" 

Forth on their quest pour German hordes. 
Like Huns of old, whom war lust fires, 
On schedule fixed by stern War Lords, 
Which Belgium queers as France desires! 

Terse notice to King Albert sped : 
"My armies will pass thro to France!" 
Words the brave king in council read 
And asked their prompt considerance. 

The oldest councillor first spake. 
Who three score j^ears had served his liege : 
"Ourselves, our ports, our soil they'll take, 
"Tho you submit, or they lay siege! 

"The German Staff ape lawless Hun ! 
"Fit sons of Attila the Scourge, 
"Who faked the war god's sword or gun 
"And whose war songs were freedom's dirge: 

[18] 



Hun War Songs — Tune: Gallant Duke of York 

Originally the Huns were a barbarous Tartar race of Northern 
Asia who in the first three centuries of the Christian era harried the 
borders of China so fiercely, frequently and destructively, that the 
Chinese erected their famous Great Wall for protection, about 1500 
miles in length, twenty to thirty feet in height and wide enough at the 
top for six horsemen to ride abreast on it. The Huns later invaded 
Europe where under Attila in tlie fifth century they waged bloody wars 
and conquered many tribes and peoples. They were notoriously fierce 
and merciless by nature and by policy, seeking to inspire fear and 
panic in the peoples attacked by them. According of Gibbon and other 
historians, they purposely excited superstitious dread among their foes 
by boasting their INFERNAL ORIGIN as descendants of the xvitches 
of Scythia and the Devil, or devils, who copulated together in the desert. 
The Huns were horrible in face and appearance as they were in their 
practices and policies. Their war songs, of course, illustrated their 
devilish ideals. 

The Devil is our sire ; 

He mated with mad witches ; 

He proved us in hellfire ♦ 

Efficient sons of * 

Chorus 

We burn, rob, rape and slay ! 
Glut all our damned desires ! 
Hell sizzles night and day 
Because Huns feed its fires ! 

For ruthless war we're skilled, Our Flag's the damnedest fraud ! 

'i'rained by our peaceless pa ; Church banner blood soaked well ! 

Diplomacy was drilled The front reads : "March with God !" 

In each by truthless ma ! The back side : "Go to Hell !" 

We plunder, maim and flay ! Our treaties trick fools right ! 

Hlight everything of worth ! Help Huns time foes' death knell ! 

In slaughter revel ! Say ! While whoop ! we toast "The Night" 

Hell hooted at our birth ! Their souls first shriek in Hell! 

On, on, we'll sack the world! We're dad's crack "Hellbeams" squad! 

Send all to one Pan-Hell ! High priests of War ! "Helldreams !" 

From Heav'n our sire was hurled ! We fake liv'ry of God ! 

Down earth goes where he fell ! Flash horn, hoof, tail "Hellscreams !" 

We'i-e sanctimonious, Shucks ! Slackers. Slavers, Spies ! 

Each sobs to the others, Ex-Devils, Judas' Sons ! 

How good God ordered us, Pan-Hellhounds in disguise. 

Burn our damned witch-mothers. We're it! HelVs superhuns! 



* Deleted. 



"There speaks the War's Staff's policy ; 
"Germans seek World supremacy ! 
"War carnivals ! Devil's revels 
"Unhandicapped, outhelling Hell's ! 

"The old Hun choice is offered thee ! 
" 'Twixt bloody death or slavery ! 
"Might strangling right by such decree 
"To shreds tears pledged neutrality ! 

[19] 



"Resistance may but futile be, 
"Fatal to nation, family ! 
"Or can we check the enemy, 
"So France can stem calamity? 

" 'Twere martyrdom for liberty ! 
"Aye, brave men die for their country 
"As gloriously, tho fruitlessly ! 
"But where shall wives and children flee?" 

The younger councillors said : "Yea ! 
"Our forts and army are first rate; 
"They'll hold Hun millions back at bay 
"And France defeat them at her gate !" 

Last Albert, King, sad, dignified : 
"0 Belgium! dear doomed Country! 
"Land where our Fathers lived and died! 
"We'll fight for Thee and Liberty !" 

IV. 

As they dispersed a message came: 
"Bar Treaty-Gate in England's name ; 
"French army late; block Germans' game!" 
Then wire from Paris much the same. 



The Germans march up to the Meuse ; 
But cannot cross ; the bridge is down ! 
They rush to build one ! Beats the deuce ! 
, Liege guns smash this ; troops on it drown ! 

Pshaw, more delays ! Huns seek new ways. 
Some fetch Krupp guns. Some cross by boat. 
Some mend a bridge. They camp for days. 
Note timetable, swear, cease to gloat ! 

The War Staff rage and vow vengeance ! 
Ordain destruction, slavery ! 
Then and there stage war's worst seance 
Plus annexation deviltry ! 

Of course, they lay waste Belgium! 
Level her forts ; take aught she has ! 
Rape women, children ; enslave them ! 
Kill, maim, deport, burn, raze! Alas! 

VI. 

"Forward with God !" Words to mask crimes 
ITnspeakable ! unthinkable ! 
Invasions! conquests! wars! O Times! 
O Blasphemy how damnable! 

VII. 

Belgium brave! Wronged, ravished state! 
What dost thou save from hellish hate? 
The trust God gave to do His will ; 
The love to crave and do it still ; 

[20] 



Thy firm faith in His equity ; 
Thy will do win just liberty 
Than, Judas-wise, dupe sister states 
As Kaiser's prize to shameful fates ! 

Thy name great nations now acclaim, 
Each emulating equal fame ! 
The Scripture sorest test hath stood : 
"All things work for the faithful good !" 

What deed shall history relate. 
Or freedom's sisters celebrate. 
Bravest, most pregnant with world fate? 
How Belgium held Treaty Gate. 



[21] 



Hold the Huns! 

Tune: "Hold the Forf 
(First sung at Sea Bright Celebration, Julj 4, 1918.) 

Ho ! brave allies, watch our message 

Flashing thru the sky ! 
Food and soldiers fast we're sending, 

Tyrants to defy ! 

Chorus 
"Hold the Huns, the Yanks are coming!" 

Wilson signals till 
Your fearless answer's at th' White House: 

"By God's grace we will !" 

See the Kaiser's hosts invading 

War lords seeking gain ! 
Countless thousands of the raiding 

Hordes of kultur slain ! 

Chorus 
"Hold the Huns, the Yanks are coming!" 

Flash the signal still ; 
Th' answer sets our hearts a humming: 

"By God's grace we will !" 

Freedom's banner we are waving, 

Freedom's songs we sing. 
Equal rights for men we're saving 

Gift of God, our King! 

Chorus 
"Hold the Huns, more Yanks are coming !" 

Hear the Allies cheer, 
"We've ten hundred thousand Yankees, 

B3' God's grace, now here !" 

Ruthless war the Boche is waging. 

Spares no sex or age! 
Ships he sinks, oft without warning ! 

Treaties scorns in rage ! 

Chorus 
"Hurry, Kaiser, Yanks are coming !" 

War lords yell in fear, 
"No chance of annexing Paris, 

Once the Yanks are here !" 

Tho long years the battle's raging, 

Still in God we trust ! 
Rigliteous victory He's staging: 

Huns shall bite the dust. 

Chorus 
"Right shall win, the Yanks keep winning!" 

How the Allies shout, 
"Back to Berlin, chase the Boches 

In defeat and rout !" 



[22] 



Neptune at Sea Bright Playground 

Written fur and read at the dedication of Children's Playground at 
Sea Brujht, N. J., July 4, 1918. 

Old Neptune took a look ai-ound, 

His empire is the sea. 

"What's this," he roars, "at old Sea Bright?" 

And laughs, "Oho !" with glee. 

"They've dared nie oft with 'safe' bulkheads, 
" 'Staunch' homes and shrubbery, 
"They're going some at Sea Bright now, 
"If CHILDREN challenge me! 

"Well, all day I'm spearing Hun fish, 
"For we fix such evils right, 
"But wife may like a moonlight romp 
"Round that playground tonight." 

O children dear, ^-ou'd died of fear. 
Had you been there to see 
The awful waves they made last night. 
Just rising from the sea. 

There Neptune stood, his placid face 
Asmiling gallantly, 
And on his arm tlic queen mermaid 
Leaned quite cnchantingly. 

Now, Father Nep's no Lillipute. 
He looked as tall, O Gee, 
As that big statue by New York 
Which folks call "Liberty." 

You have heard of lovely mermaids, 
Sweet sirens of the sea. 
They're not petite, take it from me ; 
The queen was tall as he. 

He steps ashore escorting her, 

A seaweed skirt wears she. 

They do some graceful "fish glide" steps 

Right on the beach near me. 

She needs no feet. With strong embrace 
He holds her daintily. 

While clinging grass drapes well the place 
You'd look for hosiery. 

I know I might be dreaming, 
But there the couple were. 
No use running, then, or screaming; 
Far better not to stir. 



[2."] 



First, it made me feel all creep}-, 
When they came into view ; 
Such creatures, who had ever seen? 
'Twas surely something new. 

But hark ! She voices glad surprise, 
Soft calling to the deep. 
O marvel ! Thence young mermaids rise, 
Fourscore or more from, sleep ! 

They gather at the new playground 
And try the slides and swing ; 
They frolic, chatter, tumble round, 
Then pretty songs they sing. 

One charming mermaid passed quite near. 
Of face bewitcliing sweet. 
Such eyes and form ; a perfect dear ; 
But she wore fins for feet ! 

Old Father Neptune and tlie queen 
On this same platform stood, 
Delighted with the lovely scene, 
Most genial was their mood. 

The school of mermaids did odd stunts, 
To make their elders smile: 
Singing and flapping fins at once. 
While gliding single file. 

They also gave their last school yell. 
Which scared our cop to death. 
He ran and ran until he fell, — 
Dying for want of breath. 

How Neptune roared. Then made a hop, — 
I thought he'd never stop. 
He lands botli feet, right in the street. 
Just missing Sweeney's shop. 

Bells ring! Guns boom ! The whistles blow !- 

July the Fourth began. 

So Neptune's noises make no show. 

And lie steps back again. 

Next a mermaid finds a poster, 
Whicli she brings to the eod ; 
At the picture of the Mayor 
He looks and deigns to nod: 

"I know Packer! He's half merman; 
"He lives right next the sea. 
"We're old neighbors! So 'tis his plan 
"To fix this place for me. 



[24] 



"Well, I've been teasing Sea Bright some 
"And tossing things around. 
"Yet, by Jove ! here the people come 
"And give me this playground. 

"I vow to let the town alone, 
"No Mayor'll outdo me. 
"The harm I've done I'll yet atone, 
"To Sea Bright-by-the-Sea. 

"Let me now tell Sea Bright's Mayor, 
"If any storms appear, 
"Or he wants to wet his whistle, 
"Just toot and I'll he here. 

"And ye donors of this playground, 
"I thank you heartily. 
"Safely shall your children play here 
"With children of the sea. 

"Safely hence shall men of Sea Bright 
"Build homes where'er they please, 
"And they'll always find old ocean 
"Fanned by a gentle breeze." 

Ceasing, Neptune seized his trident 
And seaward led the queen : 
Then turning saw the Stars and Stripes, 
By moonlight wave serene. 

Stood and watched till glidinec mermaids 
All safely sank to bed ; 
Then tossing high his mightv spear, 
"Death to the Huns!" he said. 

At that moment Neptune saw me 
And roared out, "Hello ! Shake !" 
But I fell flat as flat could be. 
(My fainting was a fake!) 

I caught a gentle warning, "Hush !" 
Heard swishing seaweed skirts. 
Saw lovely faces sweetly blush — 
There may be mermaid flirts. 

Those pretty nymphs all fears beguile 
With tender sympathy. 
Some have their salts, none lacks the smile 
Which inspires poetry. 

They feel my pulse, they chafe my hand — 
My heart beat shamefully. 
"There's not a merman in our band," 
One sighs regretfully. 



[25] 



"They're spearing Hun fish far away 
"Round France and Italy ; 
"We're making tridents night and day, 
"And knitting busily. 

"The sea's not safe for any nymph 
"With horrid Huns about; 
"Our men are helping Father Nep 
"To drive the pirates out." 

A nymph clapped down a pearly ear 
Right on my passive lips, 
If breathing she could clearly hear. 
And might get other tips. 

O girls! If men you must beguile, 
Beware the mermaid wile ; 
As soon as we men feel that smile 
We spin rhymes by the mile. 

But Neptune closed this incident, 
Claiming my attention 
To his message for our Alaj'or — 
Of which I've made mention. 

Also, he knew George Elliott 

Dubbed him "model Mayor," 

"Who once pulled Sea Bright out of debt 

"And made the people stare." 

So he sent to each a token 
To seal his friendship true. 
One badge he sent to Elliott ; 
The INIayor's calls Nep too. 

"Yon flag," quoth he, "means much to me, 
"Tliat banner of the free 
"Must freely float o'er land and sea, 
"We hail it^ Three Times ThreeT 

So nymphs and Neptune voice huzzas, 
Which echo far and near : 
Then our own "Star Spangled Banner" 
They sing when leaving here. 



[26] 



The Sword of Liberty 

Tune : ''The Sword of Bunker Hill." 

"With honor peace," our President said, 

"Else war for Liberty ! 
"Now, Kaiser, why you neutral dead, 

"Who sailed seas rightfully?" 
"Ach, President, I'd closed the sea 

"In name of Germany ! 
"Unwarned I there sink ships I see 

" 'Till neutrals yield to me !" 

"But Kaiser, 'tis sheer piracy — " 

"Ach, nein, 'tis Germany ! 
"Mit Gott, I make new laws to be 

"Which put seas under me ! !" 
"Can that guff quick !" stem Wilson said — 

All diplomatic'ly, 
"Ere there fall on your tyrant's head, 

"The sword of Liberty !" 

However sad, when death takes Bill, 

All hands may want to laugh ! 
Quoth he: "Your sword of Bunker Hill 

"Can't kill my Golden Calf! 
"I've scrapped your ancient tools and rules 

"Of weak democracy, 
"What boot vain threats of unarmed fools 

" 'Gainst my Efficiency !" 

" 'Nough said ! We're on ! Home James ! Ring oflP !" 

— Some pep to Prexy's note — 
"Hand passports to Bernstorff." 

Then war wise Congress vote — 
U'nsheath once more at despot's scoff, 

The Sword of Bunker Hill, 
While garbs of peace the nation doff 

To wield it with a will ! 

They joke and laugh, Bill and his staff. 

To think how easily, 
Full cups of vict'ry they will quaff : 

"No Yanks can cross the sea ! 
"We'll sink their tubs of witless dubs 

"And swords of Liberty ! 
"Some U-boat snubs will teach such cubs 

"Our sure supremacy !" 

Within one year a million Yanks, 

Sailed safe across the sea ! 
Despite the Kaiser's U-boat pranks. 

And boasted mastery ! 
Yanks take their place in allies' ranks. 

When Huns begin to flee. 
With loss of a half a million ! thanks 

To Yanks' rapidity. 



[27] 



Genesis of Monmouth and Coming of the Manito 



When Rumson's hills and plains emerged 

Glorious as Eden ere sin scourged; 

When Highland's heights were heavenward reared, 

Long before Sea Bright's sands appeared, 

Creative days, or aeons, ran 

For light, land, life, sun, beast — and man. 

The Maker paused, that Sabbath rest 

May make earth's goodness manifest; 

Then woman made (sweet Sabbath plan), 

Comrade and helper of the man. 

But God's last touches, science teaches. 

Were spent on ^Monmouth's matchless beaches. 

Nor roamed the mastodon here then ; 
Nor behemoth ranged plain or fen ; 
Nor mosasaurus more sought prey ; 
The dinosaur had passed away ; 
Subdued by autochthon ic man, 
In Monmouth marlbeds lay each clan. 

Lo, Indians were next possessors. 

Of source that puzzles grave professors. 

Whose summer camps the seashore grace; 

"Narumsunk" was their fishing place ; 

Whither their springtime trails did go 

From wigwams proof 'gainst frost and snow. 

II. 

September two, sixteen and nine. 

The "Half Moon," quaint Dutch brigantine, 

Sighted this western paradise; 

So states her log in terms precise; 

Officially Alf Juet wrote, 

"A pleasant land to see," pray note. 

For Navesink Highlands stood forth bold, 
Defying Neptune as of old, 
Green-clad in leafy, shimmering cope, 
Decking summit and draping slope. 
Facing sea and sunrise ever. 
With feet laved by fairest river. 

Just southward fertile Rumson's green 
Stretched 'twixt twin rivers' silv'ry sheen. 
And eastward Sea Bright by the sea — 
No spot on earth so fair can be; 
Resort of red men then each season ; 
Who lives there now, best kens the reason. 

Slowlv night's vapors steal away 
And bright becomes the fateful day. 
As Hudson's ship sails up the coast. 
Awed natives, fearful as a ghost. 
Proclaim by runners to and fro : 
"The great canoe of Manito^ 

[28] 



Seaward from inland haste the tribes 
To quench the Spirit's wrath by bribes 
And pay Him homage, should He land ; 
Or exorcise, if demon band; 
At all events, on that to gaze 
Which fills stern warriors with amaze. 

Up Sandy Hook mute red men creep, 

Swift as the monster skims the deep; 

Behold all scarlet and gold-laced 

Proud gods strut 'pon it, straight, pale-faced. 

No demons they ! No spooks' flim-flam ! 

'Tis Monitors own sea-wigwam! 

Wide-eyed they glide from bush to tree, 
'Till, at the farthest point, they see 
Attendants of the gods throw out 
An anchor staunch which turns about 
That great canoe and holds it fast 
While sails are furled ; the day is past. 

HI. 

That night the red men woo not sleep. 
But vigils startled warriors keep. 
Near Hudson's wonder of the waves. 
Nor grass nor mound but hideth braves. 
Chiefs sit in council, then debate 
How best they may propitiate. 

The favor of the Manito 

Whose coming augurs weal or woe. 

"Warriors, assemble and keep pace 

With yon sea-bird from place to place; 

If Manito from it shall land. 

Ready to greet Him shall ye stand." 

Thus stalwart Popomora thinks. 
Young sachem of the brave Navesinks, 
In Monmouth first to deed whites land, 
('Twas 'sixty- four, attests his hand). 
Chiefs grunt assent ; it suits their views 
To stalk or paddle their canoes. 

IV. 

The second sun the "Half Moon" lay 
'Xploring Atlantic Highlands bay, 
Eager red men paddle near. 
Curiosity o'erwhelming fear. 
Waiting or daring, may they blunder; 
So why consume with idle wonder. 

To Manito, as their first-fruits. 
They bring tobacco's choicest shoots, 
Hudson receives them on the ship 
Nor lets the golden moment slip. 
With pomp he welcomes them aboard. 
Culls shrewdly presents from his hoard. 



[29] 



Salutes their eyes with tinsel glitter 
And quiets fears with music fitter, 
Ere scaring them with boom of gun 
So ev'ry warrior fain would run ; 
While mirrored sailors come and go, 
'Till legions seem 'round Manito. 

The "Half Moon's" log omits detail, 
As thoughtful students may bew-ail. 
Just how the Captain really did it ; 
Alf Juet's silence well nigh hid it. 
Tradition tells us many things ; 
Of some of these our muse now sings. 

In any case small blame to Juet. 
Were he minute, we still might rue it. 
How far shall winged fancy float, 
Chained to a log that one may quote? 
He gives us stage, theme, time and name; 
Mere business is much the same. 

He's left us free, each to his bent, 
To fill outlines with incident, 
And as th' unsaid so golden shines, 
The poem lies between the lines. 
Had Juet spread the detail free, 
There'd plainly be no tale for me. 

"Does Hudson meanwhile broach a keg," 
You ask? Why, you the question beg. 
He fills his tankard to the brim. 
Sips, hands to w^arriors next to him, 
Who sniff and nod, as if soho ! 
Unfit to drink with Manito. 

No sample savage bagged that day 
To show o'er seas to courtiers gay ! 
Our Navesink braves knew naught of rum 
And naught of crude petroleum. 
But Spirit might like drinking bout. 
Though one wee sip knock Injun out. 

Tiie sachem next prays Manito, 
By rev'rent signs, to landward go. 
Hudson is made to understand 
That a reception has been planned. 
He bows approval, hand o'er heart, 
And, right well pleased, the braves depart. 

V. 

Next day Dutch sailors go ashore, 
Alert lest treach'ry lurk in store. 
But honest Injuns meet their gaze, 
A feast of game, a gift of maize, 
A royal hospitality 
Midst savage informality. 



[30] 



The}' play the game thus back and forth 
For days, until the Dutch sail North. 
But Hudson sticks close to the ship, 
So tight'ning superstition's grip, 
That tribes pursue the Manito, 
Resolved He shall not leave them so. 

VI. 

'Round streams and bays they tireless tramp 
To plant a swiftly growing camp 
Hard by Manhattan's rock bound shore 
Whither the neighb'ring warriors pour, 
'Till e'en tradition fails to mention, 
Or hist'ry claim, a like convention. 

Thither the "Half Moon" sails straightway, 

Where, on a rare, historic day. 

The bubble bursts ; things come to head — 

The red men face the man in red. 

Which spoils the myth of Manito 

And breaks his spell for weal or woe. 

But to my tale — it fell out thus: 

He yields to policy and fuss ; 

The shores arc lined with squaws and braves ; 

Big chiefs bid him to great conclaves. 

Naught but respect in words and deeds. 

Left no excuse, Hudson accedes. 

But when he landed (what a pity!) 
Upon the site of New York City, 
There land, alas it should be so ! 
More spirits not the Manito; 
For Hcndrick has the loving cup 
From which no Indian would sup. 

VII. 

Right well has thrifty trading sped; 
But wlien he comes, the man in red. 
Away the}' beads and axes throw, 
That they may first greet Manito. 
Hudson advances, dignified, 
Through throngs of red men either side. 

Chiefs lead him to a shaded height, 

Whence all th' assembly are in sight. 

Then Popomora makes a speech. 

By which he undertakes to teach 

The ti'ibes, that Hudson comes from heav'n. 

True Dutchmen luck ! Well works the leav'n, 

Hendrick Hudson was no talker ; 
Rathcr'd be a "Half Moon" calker 
Than address those solemn red men, 
Had such a choice been open then. 
How he tumbles to the crisis, — 
Ah ! our Salter writes not of this ! 



[31] 



It's his turn now ! How the god quakes, 
Struck with stage fright. Then quick he takes 
His cue. Up flings his hands on high 
And hrings them down, as from the sky. 
Outspread. The red men understand. 
Great Manito has blessed their land. 

Wild tumult reigns. Such jo^'ful shout 

Was never equalled thereabout. 

As thunder rips the tropic air. 

So gladness charged the voices there. 

The squaws and braves break into dance ; 

Heads won for Hudson on that chance. 

He fills the loving cup and drinks. 

The god falls down ! And Hudson thinks 

To seal a compact by that act. 

But passing it the sachems lacked 

Once more the will to even taste, 

'Till one points out the sin of waste. 

" 'Tis Manito who gives us this, 
Warriors," he says, and prints a kiss 
Right on the tankard's burnished brim, 
"We'll drink. 'Tis homage due to Him." 
He speaks and drains the fateful cup — 
The "honest Injun" is done up! 

Alert the warriors watch the chief. 
Awaiting fate of joy or grief. 
Soon he cuts capers 'neath the sky 
Mad 'nough to make e'en red men sigh. 
Anon he sleeps. Squaws deem him dead, 
And gather wailing at his head. 

First sachems, too, look on in funk ; 
Then they catch on, he's just dead drunk. 
He breathes. He wakes. He says he's well. 
The rest — who'll volunteer to tell? 
How ev'ry savage drinks the rum 
And riot reigns ere night is come. 

The white men hie them to their ship. 
Hoist anchor, make a flying trip 
Down Narrows, where canoes from shore 
Can't reach them, 'till the "drunk" is o'er. 
For brawling, rape and bloodshed tell 
That Manito came straight from hell. 

VIII. 

Now is it strange that Colman's shot.'* 
That whites kill warriors; trust them not.'* 
Tliat prudent Juet fails to mention 
"^I'ho riot and the great convention.'' 
That, after Injuns met such men. 
Each kept tomahawk for Dutchmen.'' 

[32] 



